People scammed out of over MVR 100K within last 10 days

People have been scammed out of more than MVR 100,000 in various rackets in Maldives in just the past 10 days, says the police.

The statistics publicized by police this Monday shows MVR 26,600 was reported stolen in various Reload and Raastas rackets the past 10 days. And MVR 90,625 was reported taken through rackets involving bank transfers.

Police said their investigations showed many of the victims fell for rackets involving phone quizzes, with the players asked to make a Reload or Raastas to a specific phone number, or transfer money to a specific bank account in order to proceed.

“The investigations also uncovered they were instructed not to tell anyone, and make the bank transfers while on the phone,” said the police.

The authority said they also noticed an increase in requests for credit or debit card information via social media websites or phone.

The police advised the public to be on the lookout for such scams.

“You should, at the very least, authenticate the phone number from which the call, claiming to be from a company running a promotion, comes from,” advised the police, adding that no company running a promotion will ask for a Reload or Raastas or a bank transfer or personal bank card information.

“While the police is taking action to stop such crimes, such crimes can only be prevented with public awareness,” said the police.